Montecara Pòrta Conìxia railway station

Montecara Pòrta Conìxia
Location	Plàça Conìxia 1 Montecara
Owned by	State of Montecara
Operated by	VM
Platforms	20
Tracks	10
Train operators	VM
Connections	VM Autobùs VM Corièra VM Metrovìa VM Tranvìa VM Vaporèt
Construction
Structure type	At-grade
Bicycle facilities	Rental and secure parking
Disabled access	Yes
Other information
Station code	MTC
Website	stx.trenalia.co/mtc
History
Opened	16 April 1870 (1870-04-16)
Services
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Montecara Pòrta Conìxia railway station (Montecaran: Staxiòn de Montecara Pòrta Conìxia) is the principal rail terminal in Montecara, serving nearly 15 million passengers per year.

History

The station under construction, 1864

The idea of a fixed link between Montecara and the outside world was centuries, if not millennia, in the making. Prior to 1869, there had never been a permanent bridge of any sort connecting Montecara with mainland Conitia, so travelers had forever relied on boats to reach the outside world. Traveling within the city-state also proved difficult; there were local steam trains and horse-drawn trams before the station and bridge were opened, but there was previously no inter-city or long-distance rail service. In the era before iron and steel construction, the distance between Montecara and the mainland meant that there was no practical solution for a permanent transport link. But by the mid-19th century, engineering technology had improved to the point that Montecarans' hopes might finally be fulfilled.

By the 1860s, rail travel had become not only practical but also fashionable. Trains were comfortable and reliable thanks to the development of improved steam engines and sleeping wagons, and the standardization of the 1500mm Aininian gauge for international rail services in Conitia had made long-distance journeys possible. Leaders in the Senate and Colegio had called for a rail connection with the mainland since the 1850s, and in 1865 the decision was made to build a rail bridge and grand station that would at last provide a permanent fixed link between Montecara and the outside world. Ground broke on the station in the same year, and construction of the bridge and station proceeded concurrently for the next four years. The bridge, the Pont da Ùnita, was completed in 1869, but construction delays meant that the station was not ready for service until the following year. Finally, on 16 April 1870, Montecara's national day, the station opened as the new central hub for long-distance rail to and from the city-state.

Expectations were, if anything, greatly exceeded. The station allowed Montecara to become a popular tourist destination for travelers from across southeast Conitia. Its development enabled the debut of the Caxìn Gràn de Monte Cara in 1876 and was a key factor in establishing Montecara as a destination synonymous with luxury and pleasure-seeking.

Architecture

The station was the first major edifice in Montecara to be built in the Stìl Dècora style that was coming into vogue in 1860s Euclea. The architect, Demètrio Ribi, was one of the most famous Montecaran architects of the late 19th century and went on to design public buildings in Florena and Etruria, among other countries.

The station has undergone several renovations, the most recent of which was completed in 2012.

Services

Platforms 3 and 4 at the station

Pòrta Conìxia is the hub of the VM rail network. The station is served by all regional and intercity lines and has extensive connections to Montecara's local transit system inside and just outside the station.

Facilities

The information desk

• Accessible
• Baggage drop-off
• Baggage lockers
• Bicycle rental
• Bicycle garage
• Currency exchange
• Customs
• First-aid station
• Lost and found
• Post office
• Ticket counter
• Ticket machines
• Toilets
• Waiting room